Right-handed pitcher Kyle Lohse will miss his next start because of elbow soreness, Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said Wednesday.

His place in the rotation Saturday vs. Pittsburgh will be taken by Mike Fiers, a starter last season who is working out of the bullpen this year. Fiers was part of the very effective five-man bullpen effort Tuesday night against the Dodgers.

Roenicke said Lohse's elbow is not serious and that Lohse would take his turn after skipping this start.

Fiers, who was a pleasant surprise last season as a rookie, was sent to the minors shortly after the season began and then recalled to strengthen the bullpen.

"Hopefully this will get him back to the way he was the last couple of years," Roenicke said. "(Tuesday night) was huge for him. We'll see how he does."

Starting concerns: As good as the Brewers' bullpen has been lately, Roenicke mentioned the obvious before the 9-2 loss to the Dodgers.

"I don't think we can get by with five innings from our starters," he said.

And it got worse Wednesday when Wily Peralta did not make it out of the second inning.

The three starters Roenicke counted on — Yovani Gallardo, Marco Estrada and Lohse — have not performed the way the Brewers have hoped. That leaves them with two young pitchers at the bottom of the rotation, Hiram Burgos and Peralta.

Last year, the Brewers got by with young pitchers, including Fiers and Tyler Thornburg, who is struggling in the minors.

"You hope (young pitchers) do well, but the reality is young guys don't always do it," Roenicke said.

With his top three starters misfiring, the pitching staff looks much different seven weeks into the season.

Roenicke couldn't be more pleased with his bullpen, but the fear is that it will wear down if the starters can't get out of the fifth inning.

The Brewers will have a decision to make when left-hander Tom Gorzelanny (shoulder tendinitis) comes off the disabled list soon. Gorzelanny threw from the mound Tuesday.

Roenicke also said that Francisco Rodriguez, who has retired nine straight in three appearances, could become a bigger part of the bullpen.

"Starting pitching is always a concern," Roenicke said. "That's how you win. But I don't want to say we are where we are because of starting pitching. Offensively we've had some dry spots. But you win with starting pitching."

Bullpen good again: After Peralta was pulled in the second inning, Alfredo Figaro, Rodriguez and Brandon Kintzler minimized the damage.

The Dodgers scored just two runs off the bullpen the rest of the game.

"The bullpen has been amazing," leftfielder Ryan Braun said. "Those guys have been doing a great job."

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